Growing Microgreens Indoors – How to Extend Your Growing Season
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Is your garden done for the year and you want to try some new gardening methods indoors to extend your growing season? Today I’m sharing how I have been growing microgreens indoors to provide more fresh greens for our family.
Growing Microgreens
Up here in South Dakota, we have a pretty short growing season. Because of this, I like to do anything that I can to help extend that growing season as long as possible. Some of the ways that I do this is to Build Mini Greenhouses and have a Winter Garden. I also use low tunnels in the garden and plan on building a larger greenhouse soon.
This year I decided to try my hand at growing microgreens indoors during the colder months. Growing microgreens seems like a simple way to add a little more greens into our diet, and to me, it seemed similar to growing fodder, which I’ve done for our livestock (and it’s very easy!) and to Sprouting Seeds so I had to give it a try.
What Are Microgreens?
To make it simple, microgreens are a plant that is harvested right after the cotyledon or the first leaves are developed. (Wikipedia) They are harvested sooner than baby greens and are usually about 1 to 1.5 inches tall when harvested.
Are Microgreens Good for You?
Microgreens generally have a higher concentration of vitamins, nutrients, and minerals than their fully-grown counterparts. (Source) Since it’s hard to find fresh food from the field all times of the year, microgreens are a highly nutritious food in the middle of winter. Microgreens can be a great way to add an extra dose of vitamins and nutrition to your day.
Its 28degrees here in Utah and I’m missing my garden already, so it’s time to try micro greens! Thanks for the info.
Pat, Little House Living reader
How Do You Grow Microgreens?
Microgreens are usually grown in some kind of plastic container. The size will depend on how many microgreens you want to grow and be able to harvest at one time. The setup will be slightly different depending on what type of kit you use.
Caring for the microgreens is so easy; all you need to do is be sure that the soil or the growing medium stays moist without overwatering it. The seeds will do their own thing!
You’ll want to make sure that your microgreens have some kind of light or sunlight. You can place the trays in a sunny windowsill or you can put them under a grow light. You should not need a heat mat under the microgreen trays.
What a great way to grow something indoors without taking up too much space. I think this would be great for the kids to do also! Thank you for sharing!
Erika, Little House Living reader
What Do You Need to Grow Microgreens?
You will need some kind of tray (a wicking tray is best if nothing else your tray should have drainage holes), a soil medium such as potting soil or coconut coir, and some microgreen seeds.
You can buy microgreen supplies from True Leaf Market.
What Microgreens Can I Grow?
There are so many varieties of seeds that can be grown as microgreens! The most popular varieties are:
- Pea Shoots
- Radish
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Cabbage
- Arugula
- Sunflower
- Cilantro
- Beets
- Mustard Greens
- Chard
You can buy microgreen seeds from True Leaf Market.
I started growing microgreens when C*O*V*I*D started! Love adding them to dishes. Sunflower is a favorite.
Lisa, Little House Living reader
How Do You Eat Microgreens?
Eating microgreens is the easiest thing! All you need to do to harvest microgreens is take a sharp knife or scissors and cut the microgreens off just above the soil level. Most varieties of microgreens will then re-grow so you can get another harvest.
To eat the microgreens, place them in a salad, on a burger, on pizza, in a wrap, or as a garnish on just about any dish. You can also juice them if you are into that. Here are a few yummy recipes that I found that feature microgreens:
- Chickpea and Pea Shoot Salad
- Vietnamese Beef Noodle Salad
- Crispy Mushrooms and Microgreens
- Cabbage and Pea Sprout Salad
- Veggie Melt Sandwich
- Blueberry Feta Salad
I love micro greens. They add such fresh tasting delight to salads and sandwiches.
Helen, Little House Living reader
Can Microgreens Be Frozen or Preserved?
If you need to harvest your greens before you are ready to enjoy them, wrap them in a damp paper towel or cloth and store them in the fridge after harvesting.
You can freeze microgreens if you want to, but the texture and flavor will be off. Microgreens are best eaten fresh. Since there are so many dishes that you can add them to, it’s not too hard to keep up with the harvest.
I have been growing microgreens and sprouts for several years, especially in the winter. I buy sunflower seeds at Natural Grocers, fava beans at my local Hindu grocery store, and lentils from the grocery store. I use small foil loaf pans from the grocery store, put in about 2″ of starter mix, sprinkle 4 different types of seeds in stripes, cover the seeds with 1/4″ soil then water. The first watering I use 4-6Tb water. After that, I wait a few days and water maybe 2Tb. The key is to not over water. I will get mold on the sprouts when I over water. I usually spray with 1Tb peroxide in 3oz container. After 2 weeks I harvest the microgreens using them raw in salads, or cooked in soups and stir fries.
AJ, Little House Living reader
Where to Buy Microgreen Seeds?
I ordered my microgreen seeds from True Leaf Market. They have a huge selection of seeds and Microgreen kits, which make it very easy to grow your own microgreens. You can get kits that will grow your microgreens in the dirt or kits that will grow them in a hydroponic medium.
You can also get bigger or smaller kits depending on how many microgreens you want to grow. The seeds start at just $2.99, depending on what variety you want to grow.
What Should I NOT Grow as a Microgreen?
There are some vegetables and herbs that are better when grown in a different environment such as an indoor garden or an Aerogarden.
Things like spinach, basil, lettuce, kale, and other larger greens should not be grown as a microgreen. You will get more out of the plant by letting it grow to its typical height.
Microgreens are a fun and easy thing to grow indoors during the winter. Of course, you could grow them year-round, but it’s an especially great way to get in your green veggies during the cold, dull months. We’ve been enjoying growing them on our kitchen counter and might just have to grow more in the future!
Have you ever grown microgreens? Which kinds do you grow?
Merissa Alink
Merissa has been blogging about and living the simple and frugal life on Little House Living since 2009 and has internationally published 2 books on the topic. You can read about Merissa’s journey from penniless to freedom on the About Page. You can send her a message any time from the Contact Page.
This blog post on Growing Microgreens was originally posted on Little House Living in October 2020. It has been updated as of October 2023.
This is so timely! I was starting to look into this very thing, given the ending of our growing season here in central Illinois! Thanks for the info! Kathy
I have been thinking about growing micro greens for a while now. I eat a WFPB diet and love getting my veggies in. It would be so awesome to win!!!!
Great information. Have been thinking about this will check out True Leaf.
I think I heard someone mention the term in passing recently, but I had no idea what they meant. I do long for the green leafies during winter so I’ll have to check it out further. Thanks, Merissa!
It was in my plans to try growing microgreens this winter. I’ve been sprouting for years. I have an Aerogarden. Microgreens just seems like the next step.
I ordered from True Leaf Market. Can’t wait to get my new stuff!
I have never grown micro greens, but I would like to start. Just haven’t grown anything in a garden space for a few years – due to location, so micro greens would sure make up for that.
Its 28degrees here in Utah and I’m missing my garden already, so it’s time to try micro greens! Thanks for the info.
What a great way to grow something indoors without taking up too much space. I think this would be great for the kids to do also! Thank you for sharing!
I started growing microgreens when COVID started! Love adding them to dishes. Sunflower is a favorite.
Thank you so much for this article!
I’ve never tried microgreens before and was looking for a way to extend our garden into the winter. Will definitely give this a try.
My garden is officially put to bed. I think I’m already feeling the need to grow something!!!
I I can’t wait to get started.
are the seeds a special strain or are you just harvesting regular stuff when they just pop up?
My sister grows these, and I’ve been on the fence. Would love to win so I can get a kit 🙂
I’ve never grown these before…this looks EASY & FUN!
I love micro greens. They add such fresh tasting delight to salads and sandwiches. I would love a kit since watering is my downfall!. Helen
Love to grow sprouts in quart jars in the window!! Currently using High Mowing’s Sandwich Booster Seeds!! I add them to salads, sandwiches, and pizza!!
I look forward to giving this a try. My boyfriend build me a little grow station in our living room to try to keep fresh herbs during the winter. This looks like an easy addition to that shelf!!
This is awesome. I have always wanted to try the micro greens. I just think they’re cute. 😂 but they are so interesting. Thank you for sharing.
This looks like something new to try this winter.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Would love to try growing microgreens
Have never grown microgreens before. It would be fun to try
this winter.
What a great idea. And sounds so easy.
Thank you for a clear, comprehensive article. We were wondering what micro greens were and now we know!
Interesting! Thanks for hosting a giveaway.
I’ve never grown micro greens, but am intrigued! I’m going to look up more information now. Thank you!
I’ve always wanted to grow microgreens. Thanks for the info.
I’ve always wanted to try growing indoors during our cold Iowa winters. Thanks for the inspiration!
I’ve never grown microgreens before!
I have never tried growing micro greens before but it looks easy and a great winter project.
I have never grown micro greens but it surly sounds easy enough to be doable. Thank you for the information about it and opening a whole knew door of growing oppourtunities
I have never tried growing microgreens, but I would like to try!
Fabulous! I have grown sprouts but was wondering about the micrograms.
I have a few questions about process: Do you eat them daily? If so, how much? And is there a way to grow them so you always have some that are ready to eat? Thank you!
We don’t eat them daily…they take a couple of days to grow back in between cuttings. You could grow a few different batches in different containers and stagger the starting dates so that you could have fresh batches all of the time. It would just take a little bit of trial and error. 🙂
I love how easy this looks. I use an AeroGarden for herbs because I can’t keep anything alive myself. This kit looks easy enough that I can be successful! Thanks for sharing.
Never tried microgreens. Watched a few videos about growing them. Often use sprouts, might need to give microgreens a try.
I’m going to try this! Thanks for the info.
This looks like a great idea. I grow lettuces and herbs hydroponically and I love them.
I would love to try my hand at this!
I just told a friend I wanted to learn about growing micro greens!!! Perfect timing.
Thank you for the post. I am encouraged to try this! I miss garden fresh greens already!
Your earlier post on drying greens such as extra kale and broccoli leaves from the garden is working so well. We have been crushing the dry leaves into soups and stews for extra nutrition. I love that I can take garden left overs and turn them into something nutritious for our family. Adding fresh greens to this is exciting.
Thank you 😊.
Really enjoy your blog!
I grow alfalfa, radish, broccoli and clover sprouts – so good! I have also grown mung bean sprouts and cooked them in stir fry.
I have been looking into growing microgreens but haven’t been able to do it yet. This would be just what I need to get started.
Never had any but love ” my greens””. We juice and have veggie burritos. Would love to add this to my little indoor garden
I have been growing microgreens and sprouts for several years, especially in the winter. I buy sunflower seeds at Natural Grocers, fava beans at my local Hindu grocery store, and lentils from the grocery store. I use small foil loaf pans from the grocery store, put in about 2″ of starter mix, sprinkle 4 different types of seeds in stripes, cover the seeds with 1/4″ soil then water. The first watering I use 4-6Tb water. After that, I wait a few days and water maybe 2Tb. The key is to not over water. I will get mold on the sprouts when I over water. I usually spray with 1Tb peroxide in 3oz container. After 2 weeks I harvest the microgreens using them raw in salads, or cooked in soups and stir fries.
What a great idea! I have never heard of this before. Sounds wonderful!
Thanks for sharing about microgreens!
I really would like to try this. Thanks for the info
I have never grown microgreens before, but I think they are an excellent way to get extra nutrients in my diet.
I enjoy this blog!
always wanted to try this!
Good morning. Well I never heard of microgreens and would love to try it. I sure like your website.
Yes I have grown micro greens once before and plan to again this year.
Would love to try this. I remember my mom and aunt growing sprouts 50 years ago.
I’ve grown bean sprouts in a canning jar with holes in the lid. Is that considered a micro green? I would enjoy growing some micro greens to add more nutrition to our meals.
Sprouts are a little different. They are usually a different variety of seed and since they are harvested at a different stage they have a different nutritional value. I think both are still healthy though. 🙂
Hi Merissa! Thank you for this post. I went ahead and bought two microgreens kits from the company you recommended. I’m so excited to get started! Cheers, Erica
I hope you like them!
Do you harvest at one time, cut the microgreens and then start over with fresh starter mix? You are the first I have seen that doesn’t use something like coconut coir and I would love to have an alternative to that which does not have to be tossed after each use.
It depends on what I’m using it for but since my trays are so small we usually have to start over with each cutting. My mom has larger trays and only cuts part at a time.